A vanity plate that might say Gruner was a calling card at the Von Strasser barrel. Photo by Jason Tinacci.

AT LEAST FOR ONE DAY the weirdest wines of Napa Valley were Gruner Veltliner, Nero d’Avola and, weirdest of all, a Vin Santo of Sangiovese. A few brave vintners put these strange wines up for sale at the annual Premiere Napa Valley barrel auction over the weekend.

While their more sensible peers went with Cabernet Sauvignon (138 lots out of 200), proprietary red blends (32 out of 200) and Merlot (8 lots out of 200), a small minority rebelled.

That even a tiny number veered from financial responsibility is remarkable. The dramatic nature of their rebellion is stark when you consider how much money their mainstream rivals attracted for their Cabernets. Here’s more about what transpired at the not-for-profit wine-trade-only event.

Susan Owens of Athens, Georgia, bid $62,000 for five cases of Shafer Vineyards Sunspot Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. That’s more than $1,000 a bottle for a wine that won’t be released for two years.

Willow Park Wine & Spirits of Calgary, Alberta, bought the second most expensive lot for $55,000 — 10 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from three blocks in Phelps’ famous red-soil vineyard overlooking the Silverado Trail in Oakville. That’s $458 a bottle, for you bean counters out there.

Yet a few enlightened bidders dared to be different. Prestige Wine Cellars of Austin, Texas, a town known for its independent spirit, bought the Von Strasser lot of five cases of the Austrian white wine varietal, Gruner Veltliner. (Unfortunately a complete list of prices bid was not available at this writing, but I’m sure the price for this and the next two wines was far beneath the Shafer scale.) Owner Rudy Von Strasser thinks it’s the first bottling ever of white-pepper wafting Gruner Veltliner from Napa Valley.

Nero d’Avola is probably less well known than Gruner Veltliner. In Sicily it makes full-bodied, peppery reds. In Napa Valley, Paoletti Estates offered five cases of their 2006. D&M Liquors of San Francisco, known when I lived there as the best place in that city to buy Champagne, bought it.

But what’s the deal with a Vin Santo made of Sangiovese? Makes sense that its from Benessere. This Italian-leaning winery in St. Helena has pulled against the tide for many years, as winemaker Chris Dearden crafted Sangiovese, Aglianico, Syrah, Cabernet and blends thereof. It’s the only Port-style Sangiovese I’ve heard of from California. HASR Wine Co. of Honolulu liked it and bought it.

Congratulations to the wineries and bidders who dared to be different. Now, who has tasted these and can share their impressions?

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